Nursing considerations
A patient being prescribed a hydantoin is a female of childbearing age; the nurse educated the patient about the importance of considering this.
What is the use of additional birth control? (Category D, known birth defects)
A patient who has been given an overdose of Phenytoin will present with this symptom.
What is Nystagmus?
This medication blocks the action potential of sensory nerves and can cause urinary changes, hypotension, and CNS issues like headache and seizures.
What is Lidocaine?
This class of anesthetic is used to bring about amnesia and may cause n/v, respiratory distress, and cardiac arrhythmias.
What are nonbarbiturate anesthetics?
This anesthesia uses a variety of medications in different stages of surgery to suppress the CNS, relax muscles, and induce amnesia.
What is balanced anesthesia?
A patient receives a local anesthetic agent, the nurse will assess this as a priority.
What is neurological status?
A patient received a balanced anesthetic for surgery. The nurse will monitor for this first after surgery.
What is sedation?
This medication, given for status epilepticus and alcohol withdrawal, can cause CNS depression and heart rate disturbances.
What is Diazepam?
This drug class is unstable at room temperature and has a rapid onset with worsening respiratory issues and cardiac arrhythmias.
What are volatile Liquids?
This class of drugs is used to treat generalized seizures by stabilizing nerve membranes.
What are Hydantoins?
After a seizure, a nurse would check this lab test.
What are blood glucose levels?
The nurse knows that the first medication to try with a patient in status epilepticus would be this.
What is Diazepam administered IV (lorazepam)
This kind of seizure is treated by a variety of drugs that help stabilize nerve membranes.
What are partial seizures?
This anesthetic class has a rapid onset of 1-2 minutes and causes CNS, respiratory depression, and sinus/ear pain.
What are anesthetic gases?
This class of medications is used to induce rapid anesthesia before surgery and can cause n/v after surgery and CNS depression.
What are Barbiturate Anesthetics?
A patient is going under anesthesia for surgery tomorrow, the nurse considers premedicating with this to help with adverse effects.
What is an antiemetic (scopolamine)?
The nurse is reviewing the serum levels of Phenytoin, and finds the serum level is 25 mcg/mL. The nurse knows this indicates this.
What is a toxic serum level? (theraputic 10-20)
This medication, used for seizures, can cause CNS depression, respiratory depression, and psychiatric disturbances.
What is Phenobarbital?
This drug class is short-acting and increases GABA to stabilize nerve membranes.
What are Benzodiazepines?
This class of anesthesia is a powerful nerve block that reduces pain and sensation, but can also cause skin breakdown, hypotension, and headaches.
What are local anesthetic agents?
A patient who has had a seizure is at risk of having a seizure, will have this item in the room and ready to go.
What is bedside suction?
For a patient who has continuous seizures with no other medications working, the nurse would anticipate giving one of these two medications.
What is Midazolam (versed) or Propofol (diprivan)?
This medication, used to treat seizures, can cause gingival hyperplasia and red/pink urine.
What is Phenytoin?
Hydantoins, Barbiturates, and benzodiazepines are all used for treating this kind of seizure.
What are generalized seizures?
This drug class is used for generalized seizures by influencing ionic channels to decrease excitability.
What are barbiturates?